Gaming machine with wagering features

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine  10  has a display  14  and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display  14.  The game controller is arranged to play a game  16  in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display  14.  If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine  10  awards a prize. When a trigger condition occurs during the playing of a base game, a first feature is awarded that results in a feature prize potentially made up of a plurality of individual prizes. After completion of the first feature, a second feature occurs that enables a player to wager the feature prize for at least one other prize which is independent of a value of the feature prize.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a gaming machine. More particularly,the invention relates to a gaming machine and to an improvement to agame played on such a gaming machine.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Players who regularly play gaming machines quickly tire ofparticular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers ofthese machines to develop innovative game features which add interest tothe games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players amused and thereforewilling to continue playing the game as well as to attract new players.

[0003] Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming machinemarket, there is intense competition between manufacturers to supplyvarious existing and new venues. When selecting a supplier of gamingmachines, the operator of a venue will often pay close attention to thepopularity of various games with their patrons. Therefore, gamingmachine manufacturers are keen to devise games and/or game featureswhich are popular with the players as a mechanism for improving sales,retaining customers and attracting new customers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to the invention, there is provided a gaming machinehaving a display means and a game control means arranged to controlimages of symbols displayed on the display means, the game control meansbeing arranged to play a game in which at least one random event iscaused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winningevent occurs, the machine awards a prize, wherein, when a triggercondition occurs during the playing of a base game, a first feature isawarded that results in a feature prize potentially made up of aplurality of individual prizes and, after completion of the firstfeature, a second feature occurs that enables a player to wager thefeature prize for at least one other prize which is independent of avalue of the feature prize.

[0005] It is to be noted that, in the playing of a feature game there isoften no guaranteed prospect of obtaining prizes. However, in the largemajority of cases such a feature game does have a tendency to result inthe awarding of prizes. Conventionally, the feature game may be made upof a plurality of sub-games.

[0006] Thus, for example, the first feature may be a series of freegames where the sub-games are the individual free games. While theoutcome of such free games is generally random, it is to be expectedthat, in such a series of free games, a number of the free games willhave prize winning results.

[0007] For ease of explanation, the invention will be described withreference to spinning reel games. It will, however, be appreciated thatat least the base game may be a different type of game such as a cardgame, a ball game, or the like.

[0008] The trigger condition may govern the length of the first feature.Where the base game is a spinning reel game, the trigger condition maybe the presence of a number of predetermined symbols, for example,scatter symbols. The number of scatter symbols may determine theduration of the first feature. More particularly, the number of scattersymbols appearing in the base game may determine the number of freegames in the series of free games.

[0009] If, during any one of the free games in the first feature, thetrigger condition reoccurs, a further series of free games may be addedto the remaining free games of the first series of free games in thefeature.

[0010] Further, any wins awarded during the first feature may be greaterthan the corresponding win occurring in the base game. Hence, the prizeassociated with any winning combination of symbols in one of the featuregames may, for example, be trebled with respect to the correspondingcombination of symbols in the base game.

[0011] During the playing of the first feature, a dedicated featureprize display component may be displayed on the display means. Thedisplay component may be in the form of a secondary win meter which isdisplayed only during the playing of the first feature. Any winsresulting from free games in the first feature may be added to thesecondary win meter and not to a primary win meter and a credit meter ofthe gaming machine. In the playing of the second feature, if the playerchooses the first option, ie. to take the win from the first feature,the amount displayed on the secondary win meter, if any, is transferredto the primary win meter and the credit meter of the gaming machine. Ifthe player chooses either the second option or the third option, thetotal amount displayed on the secondary win meter, if any, as a resultof the playing of the free games is deleted.

[0012] The second feature may commence automatically after completion ofthe first feature. The second feature may be a second screen featurewhere the player is granted a number of options. More specifically, theoptions may be, firstly, the player may take the feature prize andeither continue playing or cash out. Secondly, the player may wager thefeature prize by playing a new feature. Thirdly, the player may wagerthe feature prize against a mystery prize.

[0013] If the player selects the second option, the feature prizeresulting from the playing of the first feature may be deleted from thefeature prize display component and a new feature, with outcomesindependent of, and different from, the first feature may be played. Theplayer may then be awarded the result of the playing of the new feature.

[0014] The mystery prize may be one of a mystery amount of credits, aset of bonus games and a stand-alone or linked progressive prize.

[0015] When the second feature commences, the control means may indicateto the player which of the options the control means recommends theplayer takes. For example, if the prize from the first feature is equalto or above the an average prize for the first feature, the controlmeans may highlight the first option to take the prize from the firstfeature. The highlighting of the first option may be effected bydisplaying an appropriate message or by flashing the appropriate icon onthe display. Conversely if the prize from the first feature is less thanthe average prize for the first feature, then the second and/or thirdoptions may be highlighted by the control means. This indication of theoptimal strategy helps to maintain the return to player percentage ofthe gaming machine as close as possible to optimal and may be requiredby regulators in certain jurisdictions.

[0016] The second feature may be implemented by way of a touch sensitivescreen display with icons which are touched by the player to indicatethe selection made by the player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention is now described by way of example with referenceto the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in accordancewith the invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gamingmachine;

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a screen display of a base game of a game played onthe gaming machine of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIGS. 4a-4 c show screen displays of three games of a firstfeature of the game;

[0022]FIG. 5 shows a screen display of a second feature of the game;

[0023]FIG. 6 shows a screen display after completion of the secondfeature; and

[0024]FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a gamingmachine, including a game, in accordance with the invention. The machine10 includes a console 12 having a video display unit 14 on which a game16 is played, in use. The game 16 is a spinning reel game whichsimulates the rotation of a number of spinning reels 18. A midtrim 20 ofthe machine 10 houses a bank 22 of buttons for enabling a player to playthe game 16. The midtrim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24including a coin input chute 24.1 and a bill collector 24.2.

[0026] The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 iscarried. The artwork 28 includes paytables, details of bonus awards,etc.

[0027] A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash payoutsfrom the machine 10.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a control means orcontrol circuit 32 is illustrated. A program which implements the gameand user interface is run on a processor 34 of the control circuit 32.The processor 34 forms part of a controller 36 which drives the screenof the video display unit 14 and which receives input signals fromsensors 38. The sensors 38 include sensors associated with the bank 22of buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen of the video displayunit 14. The controller 36 also receives input pulses from the mechanism24 to determine whether or not a player has provided sufficient creditto commence playing. The mechanism 24 may, instead of the coin inputchute 24.1 or the bill collector 24.2, or in addition thereto, be acredit card reader (not shown) or any other type of validation device.

[0029] Finally, the controller 36 drives a payout mechanism 40 which,for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray 30to make a pay out to a player when the player wishes to redeem his orher credit.

[0030] The game 16 comprises a base game which could be any type ofwagering game. In the example illustrated, the base game is a spinningreel game and a screen display 50 is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Inthe example shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, three scatter symbols 52are spun up. This serves as a trigger condition resulting in theawarding of a first feature. For the occurrence of 3 X scatter symbol52, a prize of 30 credits is awarded which is credited to a win meter 56of the machine 10.

[0031] The first feature comprises fifteen free games. The number offree games awarded is governed by the number of scatter symbols whichserved as the trigger condition spun up in the base game. Thus, forthree scatter symbols 52, fifteen free games are awarded in the firstfeature, for four scatter symbols in the base game, twenty free gamesare awarded in the first feature and for five scatter symbols in thebase game, twenty five free games are awarded. All wins during the freegames are trebled in comparison with the corresponding win in the basegame.

[0032] When the trigger condition occurs in the base game, the player isinvited to press a “Start Feature” button in the bank 22 of buttons byway of an appropriate message 54 on the screen display 50. Once theStart Feature button has been pressed, the free games commence.

[0033] A screen display showing the result of a first free game of thefirst feature is shown in FIG. 4a of the drawings where a win is paidfor 4 X A on payline 2. If such a win had occurred in the base game,fifty credits would have been awarded. However, because it is in thefree game, the win is trebled so that one hundred and fifty credits areawarded. The win is not credited to the conventional win meter 56 of themachine 10. Rather, the win is credited to a dedicated feature prizedisplay component in the form of a secondary win meter 58.

[0034] In the next free game, as shown in FIG. 4b of the drawings, afurther three scatter symbols 52 are spun up in the free game. Thisserves as a further trigger condition so that a further fifteen freegames are awarded and are added to any free games remaining from thepreceding sequence of free games. A win of ninety credits is awarded forthe three scatter symbols having been spun up in the second free game sothat the secondary win meter 58 is credited with a further ninetycredits.

[0035] The free games are played automatically after crediting of thesecondary win meter 58 until, after completion of the free games, ascreen display such as shown in FIG. 4c of the drawings is displayed onthe video display unit 14. It is assumed that, as a result of the freegames, a total win in the free games of 1260 credits has beenaccumulated on the secondary win meter 58.

[0036] After completion of the first feature, ie. the sequence orsequences of free games, a second feature commences, the screen displayof which is shown at 60 in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The secondary winmeter 58 continues to be displayed.

[0037] The second feature comprises three icons 62, 64 and 66. Theeffect of this is to grant to the player three options with respect tothe win resulting from the first feature.

[0038] Firstly, the player could touch the icon 62 where the credits onthe secondary win meter are credited to the primary win meter 56 andsuch a result is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The game which isdisplayed on the screen display in FIG. 6 of the drawings is the finalfree game of the first feature and this remains displayed until the nextbase game is played.

[0039] If, instead, the player chooses the icon 64 and touches it, allwins standing to the credit of the secondary win meter 58 are deletedand a free game feature is recommenced. This is not the same free gamefeature as was previously played but is a new free game feature. Incontrast to the first sequence of free games played, any prizes awardedduring the playing of the free games of the free game feature are notcredited to the secondary win meter 58 but directly to the conventionalwin meter 56 as, after playing of the new free game feature, the featureis regarded as completed. In other words, the player is not granted afurther opportunity to wager the result of the new free game feature.

[0040] If the player chooses icon 66, once again, the credit standing tothe credit of the secondary win meter 58 is deleted from the meter 58. Arandom prize is selected by the controller 36 of the gaming machine 10from a predetermined look-up table and an animation is used to revealthe mystery prize. The mystery prize could be an amount of credits, anumber of bonus free games or a stand-alone or linked progressive prize.If the mystery prize is a number of credits, the credits are crediteddirectly to the conventional win meter 56 and not to the secondary winmeter 58.

[0041] Once again, upon completion of the revealing of the mystery prizeor, if the mystery prize results in the playing of bonus free games, theplaying of those bonus free games, the feature is regarded as completedand the machine reverts to a stand-by state for the next game for whicha wager is required.

[0042] Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention that a gamingmachine 10 is provided which increases the excitement of a game playedon such a gaming machine 10, prolongs such excitement and enables aplayer to play the gaming machine longer without necessarily having towager additional money.

[0043] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art thatnumerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention asshown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodimentsare, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive.

I claim:
 1. A gaming machine having a display means and a game controlmeans arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the displaymeans, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which atleast one random event is caused to be displayed on the display meansand, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize,wherein, when a trigger condition occurs during the playing of a basegame, a first feature is awarded that results in a feature prizepotentially made up of a plurality of individual prizes and, aftercompletion of the first feature, a second feature occurs that enables aplayer to wager the feature prize for at least one other prize which isindependent of a value of the feature prize.
 2. The gaming machine ofclaim 1 in which the first feature is a series of free games.
 3. Thegaming machine of claim 2 in which the trigger condition governs thelength of the first feature.
 4. The gaming machine of claim 2 in whichif, during any one of the free games in the first feature, the triggercondition re-occurs, a further series of free games is added to theremaining free games of the first series of free games in the feature.5. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which any wins awarded during thefirst feature are greater than the corresponding win occurring in thebase game.
 6. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which, during the playingof the first feature, a dedicated feature prize display component isdisplayed on the display means.
 7. The gaming machine of claim 6 inwhich the display component is in the form of a secondary win meterwhich is displayed only during the playing of the first feature.
 8. Thegaming machine of claim 1 in which the second feature commencesautomatically after completion of the first feature.
 9. The gamingmachine of claim 1 in which the second feature is a second screenfeature where the player is granted a number of options.
 10. The gamingmachine of claim 9 in which the options are, firstly, the player takesthe feature prize and either continues playing or cashes out, secondly,the player wagers the feature prize by playing a new feature and,thirdly, the player wagers the feature prize against a mystery prize.11. The gaming machine of claim 10 in which, if the player selects thesecond option, the feature prize resulting from the playing of the firstfeature is deleted and a new feature, with outcomes independent of, anddifferent from, the first feature is played.
 12. The gaming machine ofclaim 10 in which the mystery prize is one of a mystery amount ofcredits, a set of bonus games and a stand-alone or linked progressiveprize.
 13. The gaming machine of claim 9 in which, when the secondfeature commences, the control means indicates to the player which ofthe options the control means recommends the player takes.
 14. Thegaming machine of claim 1 in which the second feature is implemented byway of a touch sensitive screen display with icons which are touched bythe player to indicate the selection made by the player.